LISBON — Town Manager Diane Barnes on Tuesday night presented the Town Council with a $9.5 million municipal budget, an increase of 19.2 percent from this fiscal year.
Barnes said the 2017-18 spending plan does not include the county assessment and School Department assessment.
“This budget proposes to keep municipal services at status quo,” Barnes said. “And it does not include any revenues to date.”
Wages and benefits comprise of 52.8 percent of budget, she said.
One change includes combining the Parks and Recreation Departments.
The unassigned fund balance is $2.7 million and Barnes suggested that if the council were to use some of this money to offset the 2018 budget, it only be used for non-recurring capital costs. This includes upgrades to the communication system for the Police Department, budgeted at $33,500, or public works equipment, budgeted at $332,500.
The next budget workshop is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the Town Office. The library, Police and Fire Departments will present their budgets then.
In other business:
• A public hearing will be held April 4 to discuss the amended Kelly Park tax-increment finance agreement. The proposal will shelter 100 percent of the new value generated in the district, with 40 percent dedicated to the town’s economic development projects.
• The council adopted the first reading of a retail marijuana moratorium, produced by Maine Municipal Association. This would allow a ban on retail marijuana establishments for 180 days to give the town time to finalize guidelines on such businesses.
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